Code indexing system and apparatus



Sept. 21, 1943. M, H. LOUGHRHITJGE I 2,329,919

CCDE INDEXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1W18 ENE u oo o g n E 7/ E 90000 0 5 15a,fi- Do u D U l] U U o u 0 U 00 Ou D O O a 11 D a X n n r1 p w n-i l l E5 .9 120 *99 P 1943- M. H.LOUGHRIDGE 2,329,919

CODE INDEXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mcmmmhmmxo I II INVENTOR. 83 flmfl 6 Patented Sept. 21, 1943 CODEINDEXING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Matthew H. Loughridge, Bogota, N. J.;William R. Lockridge administrator of said Matthew H. Loughridge,deceased Application July 5, 1941, Serial No. 401,272

7 Claims.

This invention relates to indexing systems and has a particularapplication for indexing documents that are to be recorded by themicrofilming process. An object of the invention is to record documentsfor filing purposes by a code so that the documents may be found by amechanism that decodes this record; another object of the invention isto set up a code corresponding with the number or marks of a document,record this code with the document so that to find the document therecord is decoded, and another object of the invention is to provide aplurality of rows of code marks for coding the designation of thedocuments with means for setting up and retaining the code on each row.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism, thatmay be operated by a keyboard or other means, and a code registeringsystem operated by the control mechanism to set up a plurality ofeffective codes at a time, and a further object is to provide a controlmechanism that may be changed from operating one code registering systemto another.

Another object is to provide for the control and operation of a codesystem electrically,

These and other objects of the invention will be understood from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a photographic table adapted to record thecode marks in three rows and provided with a motion picture camera;

Fig. 1a is a detail showing in elevation the support of the camera inFig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a portion of motion picture film with the code marks thereon;

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram for controlling the code marks and retainingthe code set up;

Fig. 4 is a graphic representation of the code to which the system shownis adapted;

Fig. 5 is a control mechanism for the code marks in a second row adaptedfor operation as in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows a portion of a code Wheel operated by a motorstat andcontrolled by a keyboard for setting up the code;

Fig. 7 is a portion'of a. Geneva movement, electrically declutched;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the Geneva movement, sectioned online 8-8,Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a portion of a'code wheel for making scanners for decodingpurposes.

This invention is shown in connection with the manufacturing drawings ofa machine. These drawings are usually designated by several numerals inthe title in which the highest numerals usually indicate the class ortype of machine and the following numbers each represent a unitary partof the machine. In addition to this standard parts frequently form partof several machines and the drawings for these parts have a distinctiveclassifying letter or numeral. In addition to a written index of theseveral drawings necessary for the construction of a machine, it isusual to inscribe or impress upon each part of the machine itsdesignating number or mark and this is how the part is usuallycatalogued. The designation obtained from the part or from the index isall that is necessary in order to set up the system to reproduce thedrawing of the particular part,

A photographic table is provided with a motion picture camera mounted infixed relation with the table to photograph drawings placed on thetable. When the drawing is placed on the table its designating numbersare translated into one or more codes and a portion of the table isreserved in which these codes in the form of lights are produced rowshaving a definite location on the table in accordance with the codewhich they represent. The code marks have a fixed and definite relationon the photographic table, and correspondingly have a fixed and definiterelation on each frame of the film, while the drawing itself isphotographed on the body of the same frame.

The code used in the application is in accordance with applicationSerial No. 205,186, filed April 30, 1938, now Patent 2,266,779, Dec. 23,1941, and is electrically operated. The first two figures of the codeare coded in the first row of marks, the second two figures of the codeare coded in the second row of marks and the third two figures of thecode are coded in the third row of marks. In order to quickly andconveniently code the designation of the document, a code wheel isprovided, corresponding with the code wheel in application Serial No.248,894, filed December 31, 1938, now Patent 2,269,293, Jan. 6, 1942,and which has a capacity of at least different codes. In order toquickly bring the code wheel into position for any selected code, akeyboard is used, having 100 keys which are arranged in squares so thatthe desired keys can be readily selected. These keys operate a motorstatwhich brings the code wheel into a position corresponding with the keythat is operated.

The code wheel through a set of selecting fingers operates any threerelays of a bank of ten to set up the code desired. The code isestablished only when three of the ten relays are enthe code wheel ismoved to set up the code for' the third row.. When the code is thusestablished the document with its code is ready for photographing on aframe of the film, after which the mechanism is restored to the startingposition and is ready for coding another document. The code wheelincludes any movable member that can be positioned to selectively set updifferent codes.

The object in coding the document as it is recorded photographically isto be able, by means of the code, to quickly find the photograph of anyparticular document. For this purpose a system of decording is necessaryin order to selectively locate the document. The common method of usingmotion picture film is in the form of a long ribbon Which may havethousand of frames thereon and it is necessary to run this film througha projector in order to locate the document desired; The mechanism forthis purpose is shown in U. S. Patent 2,209,342, July 30, 1940. Whilethe ribbon type of film is at present the most popular, the codingsystem of this invention may be applied to film in any form in which thecode marks can be properly registered with a scanner.

Decoding is provided by the use of a scanner having marks thereoncorresponding with the code to be selected and as the film passesthrough the projector the marks on the film correspond in location withthe marks on the scanner. When three of these marks in each row registeror synchronize the code is thereby established and by means of anarrangement of photo-electric cells and decoding relays the projectingapparatus is controlled for any purpose desired. Asystem of this kind isshown in Patent 2,209,342, July 30, 1940.

It is contemplated that drawings will be photographically recorded of acomplete machine at the same time and the film will be stored away forfuture use. Years afterwards it may be necessary to. obtain prints ofone or more frames of this film and the only information available isthe marks, or numbers, that are on the parts themselves; In this case acode wheel is provided having at least 1G0 codes thereon correspondingwith the code wheel which produced the indexing marks on thephotographic table. This code wheel is used to apply the code marks tothe scanner in accordance with the code desired, the scanner is thenplaced in the projector and the apparatus is operated until the filmcode synchronizes with the code of the scanner. The motion pictureprojector is operated by the usual Geneva motion which gives anintermittent movement to the film and when synchronism is reached thisintermittent motion is declutched, which stops the film at the framedesired and looks it in this p sition. In some cases the film may beoperated at higher speed-through the projector until the position ofsynchronism is approached, when the speed is gradually reduced beforestopping.

In the drawings, II is the photographic table upon which the drawing ordocument 12 to be photographed is placed and the drawing is providedwith a designation at I3. A row of ten code marks is indicated at I 4, asecond row at It and a third row at 16. The circles indicate theposition of each mark on the table and which are photographed by thecamera HM, supported by the arm Hi3 on the stand I61, secured in fixedrelation to the table at 162. The marks M, 15

and It are, ordinarily, non-actinic, that is, they correspond with thesurrounding background and make no impression on the film except themarks 7 that are illuminated by the circuit arrangement hereinafterdescribed. The film is indicated at 57, Fig. 2 in which the document isphotographed at it and the code marks appear at Ma, I5a and 15a. Agraphic representation of the code appears in the developed plan of thecode wheel 2 l, Figs. 4 and 6, in which the pins 22, three of whichstand outin each transverse row, determine the code and the code may bconveniently designated by the figures 0 t0 9 tothe right.

The shaft I12, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, has splined thereon the insulatedsleeve 4|, carrying the ten contact fingers 23,,arranged to register onewith each of the circumferential row of pins in the code wheel and tocontact therewith by the contact 23. Connected with the first contactfinger 23 by wire 24 is the relay 0' in the bank of relays 25 and theopposite side of this relay connects to the return circuit on wire 26 sothat if the first finger contacts with a pin on the .code wheel 2| acircuit is established from the conductor 31 to energize relay 0. Thesame circuit arrangement is used for each of the succeeding contactfingers opposite the numerals 1 to Hand Whichcorrespondingly energizeeach of the code relays, numbered from 1 to 9, in the bank 25. A stickcircuit is established for each of the relays energized in bank 25through contact 21, wire 26 to contact 29 of relay 3i) energized and tothe energy wire B. This circuit operates in multiple for each of therelays energized. Y

The stick relay 30, which retains the code set up by three of the relaysand the stick circuit described can only be energized when any three ofthe bank of relays 25 are energized and all the others are deenergized.This is obtained by a repeating circuit from the energy wire 3|, throughcontact 32,'of' the first relay and expending through contacts 33, 34and 35 of the succeeding relays to energize wire 36 which picks up relayfill, in themanner describedin Patent 2,266,779, Dec. 23, 1941. .Whenrelay .30 is energized a stick circuit, is established'through contact37 and wire 38 to contact39 which isnormally closed and to theuenergy'wire B. When the sleeve 43 is restored' to. the starting position theinsulated member ll! engages 39 to open the stick circuit and deenergizerelay 3!), restoring the system normal. v 7

Each of the relays in bank 25 from energy wire 3! through front contact45 and wire 46 energizes the bank of lights indicated from 0 to 9 in therow IE. These lights are displayedon the photographic table andconstitute the code marks. It will be noted that since only three of therelays in'the bank 25 can be energized at a time, as there are onlythree pins inthe transverse rows of the code wheel, there must be threelights displayed-for each code position of the code Wheel. The circuitcontrolling relay Bil-operates 2o detect any irregularities in'thissystem of con- The system in Fig. 3 shows the method of setting up aplurality of code marks and retaining them in one row. When the samecode wheel is used to set up code marks in the next row a secondsleeveis provided on the shaft 42, Fig. 5,

. rial No.-282,833 July 4, 1939, or it may be positioned pneumaticallyby the mechanism shown in application Serial No. 315,300 January 24,1940. A reference point may be provided at 5| in the code wheel 2| andwhich is influenced by energy released through the stator 50 and theconduits 49 from the keyboard 41, provided with a bank of 100 keys 48,arranged in vertical and horizontal rows of ten. Each key represents theaccumulation of these numbers. The code wheel 2| may be operatedmechanically or by other means in response to the key board;

The code wheel 52, Fig. 9, is provided with pins 53 which correspondwith the pins 22 in Figs. 4 and 6 and this wheel is provided at 54 withfigures in the circles which indicate the numerals that correspond withthe code set up by the pins 53.

A scanner 55, located on the block 56, which is perforated to correspondwith all the pins in the transverse row'of the code wheel, is perforatedby the pins 53 when the block '56 is raised to engage the pins; thisapplie the code to the scanner for the number which is opposite thepins. The scanner is changed in position and the code wheel rotated toset up a second code thereon and this is continued for the number ofcodes desired. The code wheel 52 may be operated with a mechanism thesame as 2|; however, as the canners are only infrequently required thiswheel may be operated manually. I

The mechanism provides for declutching the Geneva drive of theprojector. This is controlled by the magnet 99, Fig. 7, which, throughthe armature lever l2l slides the drum I I8 on the shaft I I5 againstspring I I9 engaged by collar I20. The drum H8 has a flange H4 carryingthe driving pin I I3 which engages the slots of thestar wheel HI,mounted on shaft H2, which drives the sprocket of the film. A gap isprovided at H1 in drum H8 to release the star wheel for one step asshaft H5 rotates, at other times the star wheel is locked by engagingdrum H8. When magnet 99 is energized driving stud I I3 is moved out ofengagement with the star wheel and the solid drum is provided oppositethis wheel to prevent its rotation and to lock the film in the positionin which it has been stopped. When magnet 99 is deenergized, spring H9restores the mechanism to the running condition. Magnet 99 is controlledby the de-coding system not shown.

In operation the drawing 12 is placed in the table II and the first codeto be set up is for the number 66. The first sleeve 4| is brought intoregister with the code wheel and the key of the keyboard 41,corresponding with 6 in the vertical and horizontal row is operated;this brings the code wheel into the proper position, the contact fingers23 are then lowered to engage the in 22 and the code 66 is set up in rowl4 and retained there. The second sleeve, Fig. 5, is brought intoregister with the code wheel while the first sleeve is removed and thekey of the keyboard 41 corresponding to 51, is operated; this sets up acode corresponding to 51 on the row [5; likewise a third sleeve isbrought into register with the code wheel and the key of the keyboardcorresponding to 83 is operated to set up the corresponding code in rowI6. This provides the lights or marks necessary for recording with thephotographic document on the frames of the film. The code is changed foreach document as the numbers change. Generally numbers will follow insuccession and change only in the units so that the units code, or thecode for the first 100, will change for each document while the othercodes will be carried over for a number of documents.

The scanner is made by a complementary code wheel to the wheel whichestablished the code and the figures on the face of this code wheelafford a ready means of translating the designation of any part ordocument in code to the scanner. The scanner is suitably mounted in theprojector to register with the code mark of the film.

The scanner intercepts the light beam projected from the marks on thefilm except from those marks which register with the marks of thescanner. When the code in each row is established through the scannerthe three relays in each bank, corresponding to the rows, are energizedwhich operate to energize magnet 99 and declutch the Geneva drive. Thisis themain purpose of the system. Any condition which does notsynchronize will not stop the mechanism.

The system comprises a control mechanism which sets up the code and aregistering mechanism which registers the code in response to thecontrol mechanism. The control mechanism comprises the code wheel andkey board which adjusts the wheel for the code corresponding to the keythat is operated. The code is expressed in a plurality of marks for eachkey which can set up a code having a capacity of 100 or moredesignations.

The code is registered by an electric system controlled by the controlmechanism and having a capacity to translate the code of each key intothe code marks fOr registering purposes by which the code is applied toany useful purpose. Each row of code marks has an electric system forits operation which selectively brings the cod marks into register inresponse to the control mechanism. It is contemplated that several codesmay be required at the same time. Each code requires its own electricsystem for its registration so that it is necessary to set up each codeand to retain this code while the other codes are set up until theentire designation has been coded.

In this system one control mechanism operates each of the registeringsystems progressive- 1y. It is applied to operate the first code, thenit is changed from this code to operate the next code, then it may beagain changed as necessary to operate other codes. This change iseffected in a simple manner by changing the electrical connections toeach of the electric registering system. Without this change a separatekey board and code wheel would be required for each code.

The electric system of registering the code enables the codesestablished to be retained by a. stick relay until the final cycle ofoperation when this relay is deenergized and the system thereby restoredfor further operation. V c

The electric control between the control system and the registeringsystems avoids mechanical complications and enables the use of remotecontrol between the key board and the other apparatus;

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

. 1. In a code indexing system, a row of code marks, a relay controllingeach mark, a circuit controlling each relay, a code wheel having apluralityof radial pins projectingin transverse rows on its peripheryarranged according to each code, a row of fingers making contact withsaid pins, said fingers controlling selected. circuits of said relays toenergize the relays and thereby set up the code desired, a stick relayenergized by the relays setting up the code only when these relays arein the energized position and holding the selected relays energized tomaintain the code independent of the position of the code wheel, andmeans for registering the code.

2. In a code indexing system, a row of code marks, a relay controllingeach mark, a circuit controlling each relay, acode wheel having aplurality of radial pins projecting in transverse rows on its peripheryarranged according to each code, a first row of fingers making contactwith said pins, said fingers selectively controlling the circuits of aplurality of said relays to establish a code, means for retaining saidcode independently of said fingers, a secondrow of fingers makingcontact with another row of said pins, said second fingers selectivelycontrolling the circuit of another group of said relays to establish asecond code, means for retaining said code independently of said secondfingers and means for recording said codes.

3. In a code indexing system, a row of code marks, a relay controllingeach mark, a circuit controlling each relay, a code wheel having aplurality of radial pins projecting in transverse rows on its peripheryarranged according to each code, a row of fingers making contact withsaid pins, said fingers controlling selected circuits of said relays toenergize the relays and thereby set up the code desired, a holding relayfor holding said selected relays energized, means for recording saidcodes and means for restoring said system to the normal condition bydeenergizing said holding relay.

4. In: a code system a first row of code marks,

a second row of code marks, a relay controllin each mark, a circuit foreach relay, a code wheel controlling said circuits according to the codeto 5 be set up, means including said wheel for establishing a code inthe first row of marks, means for retaining said code independently ofsaid wheel and means including said wheel for establishing a code in thesecond row of marks, means for simultaneously recording said codes and akeyboard for operating said code wheel to set upthe codes desired. c

5. Means for setting up a first and a second code comprising a controlmechanism operated by a key board to set up the codes desired, a coderegister for registering a plurality of code marks for each operatedposition of the code mechanism, means operatively connecting saidmechanism with. said code register to register the first code, means forretaining this code and means for changing the operative connectionafter the first code is established to operate the second code by thecontrol mechanism-so that both codes may be utilized at the same time.

6. Means for setting up a first and a second code, comprising a controlmechanism, a first code register and a second code register, means foroperating said control mechanism to set up the codes desired in saidcode registers, means operatively connecting said mechanism with thefirst register to register the code, means for retaining this code, andmeans for changing the operative connection to register the second codeso that both codes may be utilized at the same time.

7. Means for setting up a first and a second code, comprising a controlmechanism, an electric system for registering the first code, a secondelectric system for registering the second code, a first setof circuitsconnecting said electric system with said control mechanism for settingup the first code, a second set of circuits con necting the secondregister system with said control mechanism, for setting up the secondcode,

means for transferring said control mechanism from operating one set ofsaid circuits to operate the other set of said circuits and electricallyoperated means for retaining the code set up by one set of circuits whenthe transfer is made to the other set of circuits.

MATTHEW H. LOUGHZRIDGE.

